Latch mechanism for deep-well pumps



FOUR DEEP WELL PUMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. H. MCCREADY ET AL LATCH MlC-INIS,W

Filed March 18, 1925 Aug. 25, 19:25;

Aug. 25, 192s. 1,551,200A

" C. H. MCCREADY ET AL LATCH MECHANISM OR DEEP WELL PUMPS Filed March 18. 1925 2 Shets-Sheet 2 W 42 ef @MAQ 2am/WOMAN 5j/MJ wma@ JSM/'f Patented Aug. 25, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.CHARLES H. MCCREADY, F TULSA, AND PAUL C. MCCREADY, 0F BARTLESVILLE,

OKLAHOMA.

LATCH MECHANISM FOR DEEP-WELL PUMPS.v

Application tiled March 18, 1925. Serial No. 16,2964

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. MC- CREADY and PAUL C. McCue-mr, citizens of the United States. residing at (1) Tulsa, (2)

Bartlesville, in the counties of (1) Tulsa, (2) lVashington, and State of Oklahoma, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Latch Mechanism for Deep- Tell Pumps, of which Ithe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This 'invention relates to an improved latch mechanism for use in deep well pumps ot' the kind disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,494,069, granted to us on May i3. i924..

Thel object of our present invention is to so improve `the construction and design of the latch mechanism of the pump asr to render it stronger, more positive of action, and more reliable than the latch mechanism disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

In our present latch construction. the `holding power of the jaws increases with the 25 application of the load; the jaws are supported by shoulders or abutments which serve to remove the strain from the pins on Vwhich the jaws are pivoted; and (there being two pairs of jaws) the jaws of each pair are so interconnected that the movements of one jaw of each pair is positively transmitted to the other.

Nth the foregoing objects in view, our invention may be defined as consisting ot the combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set out in the claims annexed hereto.

Tn the drawings, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a pump incorporating our improved latch mechanism; Fig. 2 is a similar view ofthe upper end of the pump showing the latch mechanism released from the sleeve piston. as when the sucker rodsare being withdrawn from the well tubing; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectionthrough the pump barrel in the region of the upper end of the sleeve piston and through the latch mechanism,the view being on a scale approximately double that of `the preceding views; Figs. 4 ande are transverse sections threaded lower end of the barrel cent its lower end, the latter barrel is pro-v on the lines 4-4 and `5---5, respectively, of

view of one ofthe latch. jaws.

'ljhe pump comprises an outer barrel 1 and an inner barrel 2 which are spaced apart and rigidly connected together at their lower en ds by a base 3. The base is shown as terminating at its upper end in an internally threaded flange 4- within which-the threaded lower end of' the barrel 1 is screwed and as having a bore 5 which is internally threaded at its upper end for the reception of the 2. Adjavid'ed with a plurality of openings 6 through which thel interiors of the two barrels corn- 1nun1cate. A shoe 7 is applied to the lower end of the base 3 and supports a standing valve assembly 8 which is fitted within the bore 5. A reducing coupling 10 is threaded onto the upper end of the outer barrel 1 and connects the same to the lower end of the well tubing 11. It will be obser-ved that theinner surface of the coupling 10 tapers from the internal diameter of the barrel 1 to that of the tubing 11.

Operating within the inner barrel 2 is a Avalved piston 12, commonly known as a working valve. The valve 13 which is incorporated in the piston12 is of the usual ball type and opens as the piston descends to permit the fluid which is below the piston to pass above the same and closes as the piston ascends to lift the body of fluid thereahove. The piston 12 is connected in the usual way to a sucker rod section 15. This rod section has applied to its upper enda latch body or frame 16 which, in turn, has its upper end connected to a string of sucker rods. the lower section of which is designated 17.

According to the present embodiment of the invention, the latch body or frame 16 is substantially square in cross section, is equipped with a threaded pin 18 at its upper end for entrance into the standard socket 19 of the sucker rod section 17 and at its lower end is provided with a socket 20 Jfor the reception of the standard pin 21 of the sucker rod section 15. A rectangular opening 22 extends through the body or frame 16 and' i jaws of each pair are reversed with respect to each other, the projection 28 of one occupying the recess 27 of )the other, and the foul jaws. are pivotally supported on pins '-317 whose ends are conned within holes 32 in the latch body or frame 16. The outer ends of the holes 32 may be counterbored andthe ends of the pins riveted therein. The opposite ends of compression springs 33 are confined within the recesses of the corre\ sponding jaws of the opposed pairs and these springs'tend to force the jaws outwardly. Attention is. directed to the fact that the pivoted ends of the jaws bear against ftheend walls of lthe opening 22 thereby to remove the thrust of the j aws from the pins 31 when the mechanism is in action. 4

Operating within the space' between'the outer barrel 1 and the inner barrel 2 is a sleeve piston 35 which is fitted at its lower end with piston rings 36 to effect a fluid tight joint'with the outer barrel. Likewise, the upper end of the inner barrel 2 is fitted with rings 37 which engage the inner surface of the sleeve piston A35. Connected,'as`

by screw threads, to the upper endof the sleeve piston 35 is a top 40, and clamped between an internal shoulder 41 thereof and the upper end of the sleeve piston is a keeper 42 which is in ,the nature of aring having top and bottom surfaces that are in planes substantially perpendicular' to lines drawn radially from the pivotal -aries of the jaws 25. A wiper ring 43, similar to those designated 36 and 37, is confined within a circumferential -groove of the to 40 and bears against the inner surfacero the outerbarrel 1.

When the parts are in readiness for use, the keeper 42 is engaged between thev opposed faces 29 of the two pairs of'jaws 25 thereby -to lock the sleeve piston to thesuck-v er rods, and as the sucker rods are reciprocated bythe pumpin apparatus, the pistons 35 vand 12 are move up and` down within the respective barrelsl and 2.

It may be explainedvbriefly that, as the pistonsri'se, fluid is drawn into the inner barrel and, through the openings 6,' into the outer barrel, the standing valve 8 opening to permit of the ingress of the fluid. As

the piston 4 descends the standing valve is maintained closed andthe fluid within the space between the inner and outer barrels is lforced through the openings 6 into the inner barrel and it, with the` fluid formerly contained within the inner barrel, rises past the valve 13 of the piston 12. On the subse uent ascending stroke of the pistons the fluid above will be lifted anda new charge of fluid drawn linto the lower ends of the inner and outer barrels '1 and 2.

- When the sucker rods are pulled, as for' the purpose of inspecting the piston 12 or renewing the cups thereof, the upper latch jaws 25 engage the converging inner wall of the coupling 1Q and are forced inwardly thereby, and by reason of the connection between the upper and lower jaws through t-he projections 28, the lower jaws `are also retracted thereby to disengage the jaws completely from the keeper 42. As soon as v the latch mechanism is thus released from the '.keeper, said `mechanism with-draws from the sleeve piston, leaving said piston in the position wherein it is shown in Fig.

2, while the sucker rods, latch mechanism,`.I

and piston l12 may be withdrawn through the tubing 11 in the usual way. `Upon the replacement of the parts the lower jaws 25 pass through the keeper 42 and the springs 33 expand the jaws and engage their faces 29 with the upper and lower sides of the keeper 42, whereupon the parts are coupled together and the pumping operation may be resumed. v

Having thus described ourv invention, what we claim is: v

Y 1. In a pump of the character set forth, the combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston,` piston reciprocating means, a latch body carried by said pistons reciprocating means, a pair of jaws movably connected to the body and arranged oneabove the other and having faces `for engagement with abutment portions on the sleeve piston, and means for disengaging the jaws from the sleeve piston as, the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the pump barrel.

2. In a pump of the character set forth,

the combination-of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston, piston reciprocating means, a latch l"bOdy Carried'by said piston reciprocating ,115'

means, a Vpair of jaws pivotally connecte to the body and arranged one above' the other and having faces for engagement withl jaws from the sleeve piston as the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the pump barrel. A

3. In a pump vof the character' set forth,

'the combinationl of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston,piston reciprocating means, a keeper on the sleeve piston, a latch body carried by said piston reciprocating means,`

jaws movably connected to said body and having opposed :faces between` which the Vkeeper is adapted to be engaged, and means for automatically disengaging the jaws from from the keeper as the piston reciproeating means is withdrawn from the pump barrel.

4. In a pump of the character set forth, the

, combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston,

piston reciprocating means, a keeper on the sleeve pistoma latch body carried by said means, jaws movably connected to the body and withdrawn from the pump Ibarrel thereby to disengage the jaws from the keeper.

. 5. In a pump of the characteh set forth, the combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston, piston reciprocating means, a keeper on the sleeve piston, a latch body carried by said Vpiston reciprocating means, jaws pivotally connected to said body and having opposed faces that are adapted to engage the upper and the lower faces of 'the keeper, means tending to swing the jaws to keeper engaging osition, the jaws being interconnected so tlxiat the movement of 'one is imparted kto the. other, and an abutment aranged to be engaged by one of said jaws as the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the barrel thereby to disengage the jaws v:trom the keeper.

' 6. Inapump of the character set forth, the combination of a pump barrel, a Sleeve piston, piston reciprocating means, akeeper on the .sleeve piston, a latchV body carried by the piston reciprocating means, two pairs of jaws pivotally connected to the body, the jaws of each pair being arranged one above the other and having opposed faces that are ada ted to engage the upper and lower sides of t e keeper, springs compressed betweenA the corresponding jaws of the two pairs and tending to swing the jaws outwardly into keeper `engaging position, the jaws'or` each pair being interconnected so that movement of one is imparted to the other, and an abutment arranged to be engaged by the corresponding jaws of the two pairs as the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the pump barrel thereby to retract all of said jaws and disengage them from the keeper.

7. In a pump of the character set forth, the combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston, piston reciprocatlng means, a keeper on the sleeve piston, alatch body carried by the piston reciprocating means, two pairs of jaws pivotally'r connected to said body, the jaws of each air being disposed one above the other and avingr opposed faces that are adapted to engage the upper and lower sides of the keeper, said jaws having also one a recess and the other a projection entering said recess wherebythe movement of one j jaw is imparted to the other, means tending to project the jaws to keeper engaging p0sition, and an abutment arranged to be engaged by the corresponding jaws of the two pairs and retract lthe jaws from keeper engaging position as the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the barrel.

8. In a pump of the character set forth, the

combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston, piston reciprocatlng means, a keeper 'on the sleeve piston, a latch body carried by the piston reciprocating means, jaws pivotally'.

connected to said body and having opposed faces for engagement with the ul per and lower sides of the'keeper, the latc edfbodyy having parts wherewith the jaws abut so that said parts receive Athe thrust of the jaws, and means for disengaging the jaws from the keeper as the piston reciprocating 9. In a pump of the character set forth, the combination of a pump barrel, a sleeve piston',

`piston reciprocating means, a keeper on the `disposed one above the other and having opposed faces that are adapted to engage the upper and the lower sides of the keeper, the

means is withdrawn from the pump barrel.

jaws of each pair also having interengaging v partsthrough which the movement of one jaw is imparted to the other, means tending to project the jaws to keeper engaging position, and anabutment arranged to be engaged by the corresponding jaws of the two pairs thereby to retract the `jaws as the piston reciprocating means is withdrawn from the piston and thus disengage the jaws from the keeper.

10. In a pump ofthe character set fort-h, the combination of a pump-barrel, a sleeve piston, piston reciprocating means, a keeper on the sleeve piston, a latch body carried by the piston reciprocating means and having a transverse opening, two pairs of identical, y

interchangeable jaws, each. jaw having at one end a hole and at the other end a keeper engaging face' as well as a recess opening y through said face anda projection extending beyond said face, two pivot pins carcried by the latch body adjacent each end of the aforesaid 'opening and through the holes of the corresponding' jaws oi the two pairs, springs compressed beextending y tween the corresponding jaws of the two pairs and tending to'jswing said jaws'to eeperl engagingposition, the lprojection of each jaw of each pair occupying the recess 'of the other jaw of said pair, 'an abutment arranged to be' engaged by the correspond-l ing jaws of the two pairs as the piston reciprocating means in withdrawn from the barrrl thereby to retract the jaws from keeper engaging position.

11. In a pump of the character set forth, the combination of a sleeve piston, piston reciprocating means, a top threaded ont o the sleeve piston andhaving a shoulder opposed to the end of said piston, an annular keeper 10 clamped between said shoulder and said end of thepiston, and latch mechanism carried by the piston reciprocating means for cooperation with the keeper.

In -testimony whereof, we hereunto affix 15` your slgnatures.

CHARLES H; MCCREADY. PAUL C. Moon-BABY. 

